Reviewing the BMW I4 40 - is this the perfect company or salary sacrifice car?

The BMW I4 40 - is this the perfect company or salary sacrifice car?

The BMW i4 has been making waves in the UK fleet market since launching in 2022. While Tesla have been enjoying a significant competitive advantage by launching their Model 3 around 2019, the landscape for credible all-electric company cars, and salary sacrifice vehicles, has changed dramatically.

The solus objective for most manufacturers is now to have a credible EV component in most segments, in order to satisfy an almost insatiable demand in the UK. Regardless of the increasing list prices and reduction in discount levels (and long-lead times) customers still want new EVs as soon as possible. And while much emphasis has been within the fleet and sal sac market, the personal / consumer market is equally buoyant.

With EVs not only offering a better driving experience (power / 0-62 times), the running costs associated with using a vehicle - fuel, insurance, servicing and maintenance - are also reduced. One of the amazing features of the e-car lease website is that we set all of this out to our customers, existing and prospective, so that the true cost of your new EV is set out clearly.

But what we can’t ignore, is the significant growth of businesses using company car and salary sacrifice schemes to procure their BEVs. Quite simply, in the last couple of years, HMRC made significant changes to the tax regime so that company car tax on a car emitting 0g/km of CO2 was initially 0%, with a small increase to 2022/23 of 2% (and where it will sit until at least 2024/25).

On a day to day level, this means that the hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds in tax a company car driver has been paying on their diesel or petrol option simply won’t apply. The UK government do need an income stream, which does partially explain this tax, but there is also an environmental focus on our vehicles and encouraging the UK to adopt electrification has not always been an easy task.

Only a few years ago there was limited vehicle choice, insufficient charging hubs and infrastructure plus a lack of knowledge or expertise to transact any of this. Hence, the change to the tax regime re-focused company car drivers, fleet managers and business owners onto electric cars as there was an incredible financial reward and benefit in doing so. And, as we discussed above, let’s not forget the other great benefits of electric car ownership / usership, in that their Whole of Life cost position is more palatable.

And for salary sacrifice schemes, the removal of company car tax served as a catalyst, making this one of the most popular methods for EV procurement. As the e-car lease Salary Sacrifice Scheme  has discovered, there is ample demand for electric cars within this segment of our market. Without a doubt, this is an immense benefit for both employer and employee and while company car tax remains so measured, there is no debating that this is one of the best methods for procuring a new electric vehicle.

So the BMW i4 is the best company car / salary sacrifice option?

Cars are personal and subjective, so when it comes to styling it’s a difficult one to state with certainty which is THE best. For example, your Tesla Model 3 is perhaps the most composed and understated option, ideal for those drivers looking for a practical and simple experience.

Tesla removed the copious amounts of buttons and switches, with their central screen (and your phone) acting as the hub. Simplicity was what made the M3 so popular and perhaps what made EVs so immensely popular from around 2019. The exterior of the Tesla is also very different from what we UK (and European drivers) are accustomed to.

We cannot forget that Tesla is an American innovation and US cars have historically struggled against the German powerhouses - Audi, Mercedes, VW - in our country. But in Elon Musk, Tesla had an ambitious and inspirational figure who managed to make this concept so attractive and compelling. And with no real competition at launch, the Model 3 became one of the best-selling cars in the UK across 2020 to 2022.

Is the BMW i4 better than the Tesla Model 3 Long Range or Polestar Long Range?

But the Volvo-backed Polestar were not too far behind with their Polestar 2 option, a Fastback with an array of battery configurations, aggressive exterior styling and a familiar (but low-key) Volvo interior. The Polestar 2 is almost the “middle” model in terms of practicality and styling when comparing against the Tesla and BMW; it’s not understated but it isn’t ostentatious either.

And Polestar have incorporated some tech but with the familiar buttons and switches we expect from our combustion options. Whereas the BMW i4 is perhaps at the other end of this scale, with aggressive styling and a more tech-focused interior. The i4 will almost certainly appeal more to the younger generations and those who want to maintain their “petrolheaded” passions from the combustion options.

The i4 really is the driver’s car, as it tries to live up to the reputation for being the Ultimate Driving Machine. The only downside is the availability for i4, with waiting times for a new i4, as at August 2022, being around March to June 2023. In contrast, Polestar and Tesla have been able to offer cars much quicker, which in this modern climate is a massive advantage!

But if you are prepared to wait, then do make sure you build the perfect i4 via the BMW configurator; the group are now using a multitude of packs so that customers can create the perfect BEV. The main features include the Comfort Pack (Comfort Access, Extended Storage, Heated Steering Wheel), Visibility Pack (high-beam assistant and laserlights), Technology Pack (Harman/Kardan, Live Cockpit, wireless charging), Comfort Plus Pack (comfort access, driver seat lumbar and electric front seats) and the M Sport Pro Pack (M Sport brake calipers, adaptive suspension, sun protection glass, m sport spoiler, variable sport steering and 19” alloys).

But how do the batteries and performance really compare for company car users - in price order?

•  Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor - at circa £46,450, this will offer combined winter ranges of 220 miles with warmer temperatures allowing for 305 miles on a full charge. Expect 0 - 62 times of 7.4 seconds and top speeds of 99 mph via the 170 kW motor (228 hp). The 11 kW AC max allows for 0 - 100% charging times of just over 8 hours and rapid charge from 10 - 80% in 32 mins at the 151 kW DC max. The Polestar Long Range has a vehicle fuel equivalent of 143 mpg and a braked towing weight of 1500kg. In terms of cargo volume, the i4 has 405L; 
•  BMW i4 e-Drive 40 - at circa £55,000, this will offer combined winter ranges of 240 miles with warmer temperatures allowing for 335 miles on a full charge. Expect 0 - 62 times of 5.7 seconds and top speeds of 118 mph via the 250 kW motor (335 hp). The 11 kW AC max allows for 0 - 100% charging times of just under 9 hours and rapid charge from 10 - 80% in 30 mins at the 200 kW DC max. The i4 40 has a vehicle fuel equivalent of 145 mpg and a braked towing weight of 1600kg. In terms of cargo volume, the i4 has 470L; and
•  Tesla Model 3 Long Range - at circa £57,490, this will offer combined winter ranges of 250 miles with warmer temperatures allowing for 345 miles on a full charge. Expect 0-62 times of 4.4 seconds and top speeds of 145 mph via the 324 kW motor (434 hp). The 11 kW AC max allows for 0 - 100% charging times of just over 8 hours and rapid charge from 10 - 80% in 27 mins at the 250 kW DC max. The M3 Long Range has a vehicle fuel equivalent of 162 mpg and a braked towing weight of 1000kg. In terms of cargo volume, the i4 has 561L.

BMW I4 Gran Coupe 250kW eDrive40 M Sport 83.9kWh 5dr Auto [Tech/Pro]

In terms of the car shown, the BMW I4 Gran Coupe 250kW eDrive40 M Sport 83.9kWh 5dr Auto [Tech/Pro], please see the configuration below:

•  M Brooklyn Grey Metallic Paint
•  Vernasca leather - Black with blue stitching
•  Comfort plus pack without smart opener with driver lumbar support
• Visibility package
•  19" 859 M Y-spoke Bicolour Jet Black All

What is the range of the BMW i4 40?

What is the battery capacity and charging speed on the BMW i4 40?

How long does it take to charge the BMW i4 40?

What is the company car tax on the BMW i4 40?

Where can I charge the BMW i4 40?